Thread: Goin to the gun show!

Originally Posted by SJA

I was leery of buying on the web for that very reason. I want to make sure Im getting something new or close to new before I plunk down hundreds of dollars.

Im unable to look at any gun sites from work, what do you guys think is a fair deal for a P250, new and used? I dont mind spending a little more to help a local store out, but not at a big expense.

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/

Originally Posted by SJA

So gun shows dont sell new guns? Thats a surprise. I suppose I can look for good deals, but with the gun demand as high as it is I doubt Ill find any. The prices Ive seen on most local store sites range from $450 - 650ish on the P250.

A related question, which ammo is still readily available? With the barrel options, I dont want to get something I cant find ammo for. I was thinking 9mm?

They do sell new guns...different dealers will have booths/tables setup and there will be new guns.

For a SIG, to KNOW it is new, look for a blue paper band around the grip. If the band is RED, it is certified pre-owned by SIG. If it has no band, changes are it is used.

To know if it has been fired, look for smiles on the barrel. Lock the slide back and look at the top of the exposed barrel. If the black finish is worn off in u-shaped patterns (smiles) then the gun has either been fired a fair amount or had the slide racked hundreds of (thousands?) of times.

If the barrel has smiles, and it has no band, its a used gun.

If the barrel has smiles, and it has a red band, look for a significant discount off of retail.

I own a SIG P250 in 9mm and love the crap out of it. I carry it concealed and have put probably 2600 rounds down the tube. The only malfunctions I have had have been some failures to extract the spent casing but the experts have told me that is likely because of the soft aluminum casings I've been shooting. Examining the spent shells, I think they are right...the rims on the back of the casings have rips in them - brass is more durable.

If you decide to buy a gun from a dealer at the show, get their card, their information, etc. so in case there is a problem, you can contact them.

Something I'm not sure anyone mentioned... Never accept the price that the vendor has as gospel. Make an offer. I have yet to find a gun show vendor that isn't willing to dicker with the price if you have cash in your hand while you talk to him. And if he doesn't want to come down on it, put your money back in your pocket and walk away. Then come back an hour later and ask him if he's changed his mind yet. He'll buckle some time before the end of the weekend.

MSRP on the SIG P250 is $750 but I got mine for $600 in January from a store that is notorious for over-charging...the price may have gone up because of demand, who knows.

I dig the gun though. The trigger is smooth as butter.

Originally Posted by Big_Boze

I'm going to need you to pick up a few things for me.


Mauser Kar98k, M-4 and a Remi-870


=]

Oh, ammo for all 3 as well please.

You can get a Yugoslavian M24/47 for less than a true deal K98 German. They both use 8mm but the M24/47 is usually right around $200, though I have seen them as low as $140.

Remington 870 can be had for under $300 if you catch a sale.

M forgery you can build for less than $900 if you shop around and build it yourself.